A passionate Queensland Premier admitted her friends were left distressed after they wrestled with whether or not to abort a pregnancy, as she called for respectful debate on the issue.
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Abortion remains in the Criminal Code in Queensland, joining New South Wales as the only Australian state to have not yet decriminalised the procedure.
Pro-life protesters rallied outside the Toowoomba Regional Council chambers on Monday as the state cabinet met inside.
Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was important for people to be able to air their views.
"It's very emotional for many people," she told ABC Southern Queensland on Tuesday.
"At the end of the day, I think it needs to be a woman's choice with her doctor."
Ms Palaszczuk said only the families involved could make the decision for a termination, in consultation with their doctors.
"I've had friends that have had to make those decisions based on the medical evidence that's been handed to them," she said.
"It's been very upsetting to them."
Abortion reform will be debated in the Queensland Parliament next month.
Labor MPs will be granted a conscience vote but the LNP was yet to reveal whether it would follow suit.
Ms Palaszczuk said she had asked her MPs to be very respectful in the debate and she hoped everyone in the Parliament would be respectful.
"We want it to be an educated debate," she said.
"It's very tough decisions but also, too, I want women to be able to have access to safe health measures as well."
Under the proposed laws, women would be able to request a termination up to 22 weeks into gestation without a reason, while doctors with a conscientious objection would need to refer a patient to a medical practitioner who would perform the procedure.
After 22 weeks, the woman's doctor would need to consult with a second doctor to receive approval.
The bill would also create exclusion zones of 150 metres around clinics, to prevent women and staff being traumatised by protesters.
Tackling arguments the bill facilitated late-term abortions, Ms Palaszczuk said they were "very rare".
"I think unfortunately that's dominated the debate and like I said, that's in consultation with the woman and at least two doctors," she said.
"I can't put myself in another woman's shoes to see how she's feeling and the complex nature of what could be happening."
